Sisters Bring Hope after Tornado
Right down the road from where the Sisters minister, in the towns of Beauty and Lovely, we saw the damage to trees, homes and buildings from the tornado. We went to the site of the home of an elderly woman named Mary, which was completely destroyed down to the foundation. Mary happened to be there, so we had the opportunity to talk with her. We learned that, when the tornado came through and her house collapsed, Mary was pinned under a wall. Three people came to assist her; and while two lifted the wall off her, the other went into what was her bedroom and stole her purse and her glasses. She said she cried for days.
Christian Help stepped in to replace her glasses immediately and to provide other assistance. Once she got over the shock, Mary realized she was one of the fortunate ones because she had insurance against tornadoes. Since tornadoes don’t normally occur in the region, few pay for the additional coverage. Mary was thrilled to show us a picture of her new home, and she is eagerly waiting for the rebuilding to begin.
For more information on the ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in this Appalachian area, click here.